weird problems when using with RS analog meter

**winggee** · **06-09-06, 03:39 PM**

Last weekend, i loaded rew onto a sony vaio laptop. The laptop only has a mic in and no line in. I hooked up my old radio shack spl meter to the laptop and the meter instantly moved (can't remember what values). no matter what db setting the meter didn't really move at all. I ran a test tone from the receiver and had the meter hooked up, i could not get an accurate reading by any means.

when i launched rew, the input level was pretty low and i just jacked up the volume in the sound control panel. i have no idea how accurate anything is and not sure where to start on getting an accurate reading. when i did a quick sweep from 400hz-10hz, it showed a very wilding varying graph. man numerous peaks and nulls. Again i have no idea how accurate that graph is due to not knowing if the meter is working correctly. i do have the calibration files loaded.

when i unplug the cable to the spl meter, the meter functions normally.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Wing

**Sonnie** · **06-09-06, 03:49 PM**

Hey Wing Gee.... welcome to the Shack!

Unfortunately laptop mic inputs are not cut out for this type of measuring and don't work so hot with REW. I have heard of only a very few (maybe a couple) of folks that had any success using the mic input.

Several here, including myself, use the Creative Sound Blaster MP3+ USB Sound Card with our laptops... works beautifully. You'll need dual RCA to single mini plug connections for the input and output of the sound card.

Of course there are other USB sound cards availble too... the above is merely one suggestion for you.

**winggee** · **06-09-06, 04:53 PM**

Thanks for the welcome!

expect a bunch of questions from me when i get this thing up and running.

is there a way to verify that my meter is working correctly without hooking it up to a laptop? I guess i can hook it up to my desktop to see if it does the same thing. I have a sound blaster audigy on my pc.

Thanks!
Wing

**brucek** · **06-09-06, 05:18 PM**

Quote:

is there a way to verify that my meter is working correctly without hooking it up to a laptop?

Connect the SPL meter with a standard RCA audio cable to the AUX or CD etc line input of your stereo receiver and talk into it. It's a microphone.

Adjust the volume on your receiver and the SPL meter dial to get the correct volume. That will tell you if the line out works or not...

brucek

**winggee** · **06-09-06, 05:59 PM**

sweet. Duh! that's perfect! I forget it's a microphone and keep thinking it's some weird little volume meter.

man those mp3+ usb soundcards are cheap. might have to go look for one locally so i can experiment tonight.

Thanks!
Wing

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